Dance in Mythology and Religion - Dance in Scriptures

Dance in Scriptures

The Torah, the Psalms, the and many other scriptures reference dance:

Old Testament

• A Time to Dance:
  • Ecclesiastes 3:4
• Social Dance in celebration of what God has done:
  • Exodus 15:20;
• Judges 21:21 - 23
• In celebration before the Lord:
  • 2 Samuel 6:14-16;
  • 1 Chronicles 15:29
• Social dancing in celebration of a god:
  • Exodus 32:19;
  • 1 Kings 18:26 (The act of celebrating a false god is condemned here)
• A child's dance:
  • Judges 11:34;
  • Job 21:11
• Celebration of warriors:
  • 1 Samuel 18:6-7;
  • 1 Samuel 21:11;
  • 1 Samuel 29:5;
• As an expression of happiness:
  • Psalm 30:11;
  • Lamentations 5:15;
• In Worship to the Lord:
  • Psalm 149:3;
  • Psalm 150:4
• Social Dance with Friends:
  • Jeremiah 31:4;
  • Jeremiah 31:13
• A Lovers Dance:
  • Song of Solomon 6:13

New Testament

• Social Dance with Friends:
  • Luke 15:25;
• Jesus uses dance as a metaphor
  • Matthew 11:17
• For the king:
  • Matthew 14:6 and Mark 6:22